2026 London Broncos season

In September 2025, following the conclusion of London's 2025 RFL Championship season, Darren Lockyer led an ownership group consisting of businessman Grant Wechsel, and Super League executive Gary Hetherington in the successful takeover of the London Broncos.^[1][2]

Lockyer and his business partner Grant Wechsel have a 90% stake, with Gary Hetherington retaining a minority share in the club in the capital.^[3][4]

In October 2025, with Toulouse Olympique and the York Knights selected for promotion, the London club were controversially overlooked for elevation to the Super League in favour of the Bradford Bulls.^[5][6][7]

Following the decision, the club’s ownership group confirmed their commitment to the long-term vision, emphasising that they will compete in the Championship for the 2026 season with the goal of securing a Super League place in the future. ^[8]

Mike Eccles relinquished his lead coach role at the end of the 2025 season after Jason Demetriou was confirmed as the new head coach of the London Broncos from the 2026 season.

This was confirmed after the Darren Lockyer led takeover of the London side was ratified in September 2025.^{[9][10][11][12][13]} Eccles became the Director of Rugby & Performance at the Broncos.^[14]

In September 2025 Jason Demetriou was confirmed as the new head coach of the London Broncos from 2026 onwards. This was confirmed was confirmed to be a three-year deal after the Darren Lockyer-led takeover of the London side was ratified in September 2025.^{[15][16][17][18][19][20]}

In October 2025 Danny Ward returned to the club as assistant coach, taking the role after winning the Super League with Hull Kingston Rovers.^[21] He returned to the club where he was the head coach for four years, assistant for three years and under 19s coach for two years, as well as spending four years as a player in the capital.

In October 2025 the Broncos signed a multi-year deal with the global sports brand Reebok as first team kit manufacturer as well as official supplier of teamwear and merchandise.^[22]

The re-branding also involved a change in logo, as well as a move away from the black with a white chevron kits that had been the mainstay of the club for over a decade.^[23]

The 2026 home kit shifted away from traditional London colours and moved to navy blue.^[24][25] This move however did have connection to the away kits of the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons, as well as a colour connection to the away kits of the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 seasons. It also had a link to AFC Wimbledon with shades of blue being the traditional colours of Wimbledon F.C. as well as both clubs having all-white away kits.^[26][27][28] Another link was the Union Jack or the Union Flag; with blue, red and white being the clubs colours on the field and their branding identity away from it.^[29]

In November 2025 the London Broncos moved to a new training base, taking over the former London Irish rugby union club facility in Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey. The Hazelwood complex will serve as the Broncos' new training ground and also their administrative base. The Broncos are the primary tenants at the site, however the London Irish Amateur side will still continue play their Regional 2 Thames level six games there.^[30]

The Broncos' new administrative headquarters has four full size grass pitches, one full size 4G pitch, medical support centre, gym and a large clubhouse with an on-site chef and a licensed bar open to the public seven days a week.^[31][32]

In January 2026 Wally Lewis presided over a ceremony in which Reagan Campbell-Gillard was named as captain of the London Broncos for the 2026 RFL Championship season, taking over from long-term captain Will Lovell.^[33]

In late 2025, the Broncos' hierarchy announced their intention to run a Reserves side alongside the first team.^[34] In January 2026 it was confirmed that the London Broncos would feature in the 2026 Super League Reserve competition, with home games played at the clubs Hazelwood facility.^[35]

Every aspect of the London Broncos season is being filmed for a planned documentary series. Both Darren Lockyer and Grant Wechsel have confirmed that it is being filmed, but have remained coy on where it is due to be broadcast.^[36]

In March 2026 the National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea announced that it has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for all of the remaining London Broncos home matches for the 2026 season. PNG NBC will broadcast these home games across PNG and selected Pacific Island markets. In Papua New Guinea, NBC will feature all the matches LIVE on NBC Channel 1 along with a simulcast on NBC Radio.^[37]